خواندن

خواندن
khândan
to read; to sing
verb (polysemous)A1
Quick Reference
khÂN-dan
to read; to sing
A1 — Absolute Beginner
خواندن pronounced by Elyar

What it means

خواندن (khândan) is a Persian verb with two distinct meanings: “to read” and “to sing.” Same verb, same conjugation, both senses heavily used. Context tells you which is meant.

The two senses

  • To read: کتاب می‌خوانم (ketâb mikhânam) “I am reading a book”
  • To sing: آواز می‌خواند (âvâz mikhânad) “She is singing”
  • Also: to study, to chant (especially religious recitation)

How to use it

  • هر شب کتاب می‌خوانم (har shab ketâb mikhânam) “I read a book every night”
  • بلند بخوان (boland bekhân) “Read it aloud”
  • این آهنگ را می‌خوانم (in âhang râ mikhânam) “I sing this song”

Conjugation snapshot

  • Present stem: خوان (khân)
  • Past stem: خواند (khând)
  • Imperative: بخوان (bekhân) “read! / sing!”
  • Infinitive: خواندن (khândan)

Common pairings

  • خواننده (khânande) “reader; singer”
  • درس خواندن (dars khândan) “to study, learn lessons”
  • نماز خواندن (namâz khândan) “to perform prayer (Islamic)”

References

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Present stemخوان khân
Past stemخواند khând
1sg presentمی‌خوانم mikhânam "I read, I sing"
1sg pastخواندم khândam "I read, I sang"
Subjunctive 1sgبخوانم bekhânam "(that) I read"
Imperative (2sg)بخوان bekhân "read! sing!"
Imperative (2pl)بخوانید bekhânid "read! (formal)"
Connected Words
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